Mission

Since 1999, the National Research Fund (FNR) has succeeded in developing various thematic and structural funding instruments that helped to construct Luxembourg’s reputation as a research site. During the ten years of its existence, the FNR has constantly striven for optimal conditions in national research to bear international comparison.

The FNR serves all branches of science and the humanities with an emphasis on strategically aligned research domains. A yearly Performance Contract, concluded with the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, sets the budgetary frame for the well-defined short- and long-term objectives.

With its current funding activities for public research, the FNR pursues a three-fold strategic objective:

• supporting researchers to build up scientific quality and excellence;
• improving Luxembourg’s research environment and institutional framework;
• promoting scientific culture, particularly among the young.

Through a detailed analysis of Luxembourg research and society in 2006 and 2007 - the FNR Foresight study - national priorities for research could be identified and have since been implemented through a new research programme and a newly reoriented strategy.

Since 2000, the FNR has thus implemented

• various thematic and structural Research Programmes, through which research projects in priority areas for Luxembourg are financed,
• Accompanying Measures, through which scientific conferences, publications, trainings or other smaller activities may be financed.

Since October 2008, the FNR has also been in charge of allocating the AFR (Aides à la formation-recherche) Grant Scheme (the former BFR grants of the Ministry of Research), with the objective to financially support PhDs and Postdocs in their training.

More and more importance is also given to the promotion of scientific culture in Luxembourg. Events like the Science Festival or the Researchers' Night illustrate the efforts made and bridge the gap between science and society, and above all young people.